Letter #32 from Russia

Hey Family! I really enjoyed talking to you yesterday. It was so great to see you all! I really don't know what to say now though because, well... we just talked... So right now we're not really experiencing any success in our area. It feels like we're just swimming against the current in an ocean of butter. Russia is a tough mission. The people here are wonderful, but really difficult to get them interested in our message. They have all been taught that other than the Russian Orthodox church, all other congregations are a cult and have darker intentions behind their proselyting. You can go all week and not meet one person who doesn't think you're a cultist. It's really frustrating. We met this one guy the other day who said that all you have to do to repent is confess your sins to a priest and then pay them, and then you can go do whatever you want. It was so frustrating because so many people here are caught in that disgusting lie! It feels like Satan has his grasp so strongly on these people's hearts! They are nice people and you can't help but love them, but that doesn't save them. I think one of the biggest lessons I've learned on my mission is how to love the sinner but hate the sin. I cannot stand the things that people do and say here, the lies the priests tell and the terrible spirit that seems to haunt and hang over so many people. But I can't say that I don't love any of them. I love the people who do the terrible things. I love the priests because at least they read the bible. I just don't know how to get them to see the light. That there is something very vital that they are missing. People here know they are unhappy, but they are unwilling to change, even if we can PROVE that our message has changed our lives, our families and friends lives and countless others. There's a phrase they have here "Nam mnoga ne nada, no mnoga noozhna." It means "We don't need anything but we we need a lot." It's a contradictory phrase that plays fun at the Russian's stubborn nature about not wanting help from anyone but also illuminates the fact that they complain about not having enough. All in all, I'm having a great time! I'm loving my mission! We are definitely in a down slump right now, but that is what the mission is about! I love you all and I will probably miss you eventually! But as for now, Russia is my home, it's where I belong and I have no problems with that. Loves, Elder Skvortz!

Letter #31 from Russia

Aloha! Horosho! So everything is going well! The temple was awesome! I got sealed to The president and his wife for time and all eternity! haha! Well, sort of. haha! We got to do a session as well, so that was awesome! However, while I was in Kiev I had two really important envelopes in my backpack, one of which was for an elder's family who lives there that I was to deliever. The other one was all my registration to live legally in Russia... I got them mixed up and gave the registration to a temple worker in Kiev and flew back to Russia and then realized what had happened... so I'm actually getting kicked out of Russia for three months and coming back to Utah until we can get it sorted out... Just kidding. Nothing bad happened. They got the registration all sorted out. I just wanted to scare you. Yo My Oh just means my goodness, or something like that. It is most definitely not a swear word... at least where I'm serving. Maybe in some other part of Russia. Rachel, I loved hearing your story about Boston washing his hands in the Toilet, but at least it wasn't his Jacuzzi. haha! Mary, cool story about the guy totally turning around! I wish I could get that to happen! By the way, could someone send me Tiffany Johnson's address! That would be great! Thanks! So this wednesday is victory day here in Russia. If there was any holiday to drink more than New years, it's Victory day... so we can't leave the apartment again. haha! Bleen (dang) I only have like five minutes... So my companion is calling home at about 6:00 my time, which means I'll be calling about 7:30 - 8:00 my time. Which is like 9 or 10 your time or something. Karoche (in short), just be ready to for me to call sometime around then. Love you all! I've gotta go! I feel like there was more I wanted to say, but I forgot... oh yeah! Happy Anniversary!!! K loves! Elder Skvortz!